Guys. NPR is not the enemy. WAMU is not the enemy.

B10Cycle has the right idea.

The show that the spot aired on was strictly a local show, Metro Connection, which covers local DC area issues, with a focus on what is happening around town on the upcoming weekend. I listened to and taped the original program so I could listen to it again.

The anti-bike rant was done by a COMMENTATOR, an independent person expressing only their own opinion. It was not intended as the position of the network, the station or the program. Blaming and bashing NPR, WAMU and Metro Connection is, IMO, foolish, wrong-headed, counterproductive and done from a position of ignorance.

I don't know about all NPR stations nationwide, but I am very knowledgeable about this station. This is the same station that has had representatives of WABA and other organizations on to speak for bicycling and for more trails. This is the same station that has given good coverage of bicycle events such as Bike DC and the Tour of Hope. This is the same station, and the same program, that has covered issues such as the tree cutting along the WO&D trail and the proposed conversion of part of the Capital Crescent Trail back to rail. I have heard pro-trail and pro-bike commentators on this station and on this program several times. WAMU has been a FRIEND of the bike community in DC. One commentator that we strongly disagree with doesn't change that FACT.

That said, I was not happy to hear Mr Kalb's cranky and nasty rant on my station. I will be contacting the station this week with my opinion of Mr Kalb, but I recognize that the rant was Mr Kalb's and his alone. WAMU is a responsible media organization and has always tried to be fair and professional. WAMU regularly invites other commentators to respond and gives time for opposing views. I expect to hear a good response on the air in the next couple of weeks.

I think the tone and thrust of Mr Kalb's rant stinks. Makes me mad, and a bit scared to think that such a person is out on the same streets that I ride on. On the other side, looking at the SUBSTANCE of Mr Kalb's rant, there are a couple of points.

a) He starts his commentary with a story about two friends stuck driving behind two cyclists using the road instead of the adjoining bike path on MacArthur Blvd. The part of MacArthur Blvd that is in DC has no adjoining bike path, just road and sidewalk. But the Maryland part of MacArthur does have a bike path, and the Maryland Code section 21-1205.1(b)(1) prohibits bicycles from riding on the road when there is either a bike path or a smooth paved shoulder adjoining the road. I didn't realize that was the Maryland law until I looked it up today. I really hate to admit it, but Kalb has the law on his side on that one.

b) Rock Creek Parkway is a very busy and dangerous place to ride on weekdays. The District of Columbia does NOT have a law requiring bikes to ride on bike paths when one is available, but I would question the sanity while upholding the right of bikes to be on Rock Creek on a weekday. (Weekends are a different case.)

If you want to do something constructive, write a POLITE but FIRM letter or email to the station, WAMU, and to the program, Metro Connection, and let them know that you take exception to Mr Kalb's commentary. You can also contact Mr Kalb directly through the organization that actually employees him, the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press at Harvard University. http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/presspol/

Again, be polite but firm. If we end up sounding like as big a jerk as Kalb did in his rant, then we've only hurt our cause.